Tillman vs. Fister tonight in Houston

Two quality start streaks are on the line tonight in Houston.

Chris Tillman and Astros right-hander Doug Fister each have posted six consecutive quality starts, though the numbers don't exactly match up. That would be quite a coincidence.

Tillman is 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in nine starts this season. He's allowed eight runs in his last 39 1/3 innings during his streak.

Fister is 4-3 with a 4.22 ERA in eight starts this season and he's allowed 14 runs in 38 1/3 innings during his streak.

Maybe we should prepare for a low-scoring game tonight.

I'm giving Tillman the edge, which probably is the kiss of death. I also drew Nyquist in the Preakness pool.

Tillman is averaging 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Right-handers are batting .202 against him and left-handers are batting .222. He's 5-0 with a 2.04 ERA in seven starts at home and 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts on the road.

Tillman is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA in four career starts against the Astros and 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts in Houston, where he's allowed two runs and eight hits over 13 2/3 innings.

At Camden Yards last year, Tillman held the Astros to two runs and five hits over seven innings in a 4-1 loss. In his last start at Minute Maid Park, he allowed one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-1 win on May 31, 2014.

Colby Rasmus is 6-for-23 with two doubles, two home runs and seven strikeouts against Tillman. Jason Castro is 3-for-10 with two doubles and a home run.

The Orioles had some interest in Fister over the winter, but there were concerns about his ability to pass the physical. He signed a one-year deal with the Astros worth a guaranteed $7 million. Incentives reportedly could push the value to $12 million.

Left-handers are batting .315 against Fister this season and right-handers are hitting .179. Over his career, they're both hitting .262 against him.

Will manager Buck Showalter stack the lineup with left-handers, including Hyun Soo Kim and Pedro Alvarez? Matt Wieters will be behind the plate.

Fister is 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA in three starts at home this season and 3-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five starts on the road.

Fister is 4-2 with a 4.63 ERA in eight career games against the Orioles, including seven starts. The current group is 27-for-83 (.325) against him.

Alvarez is 5-for-9 with a home run against Fister. The question is whether he's the third baseman or designated hitter tonight.

Adam Jones is 6-for-17 against Fister, Chris Davis is 5-for-13 with two home runs, Manny Machado is 3-for-6 with a home run and Wieters is 4-for-12.

The Astros have lost four in a row and seven of their last 10 games, burying them in last place in the American League West. They're 10-13 at home and the Orioles are 9-8 on the road.

The Orioles lost last year's series 4-3, dropping three of four at Minute Maid Park. Every game was decided by three runs or fewer.

Reliever Ashur Tolliver will join the team in Houston and wait to make his major league debut at 28. The Orioles will announce the roster move later today.

A lefty with a fastball that touches 95 mph is intriguing and gives the bullpen a different look. He also gives the Orioles much-need flexibility. Mychal Givens was the only reliever with options.

It was nice to read the congratulatory tweets from current and former teammates, as well as his agency.

Here's hoping that Brian Matusz quickly finds another job and perhaps gets the chance to start again. This is what he wants to do. It wasn't happening in Baltimore.

It was time for the sides to part ways.

Matusz was a non-tender candidate the last two winters. He never got on track this season after the Orioles activated him from the disabled list. Left-handers were 5-for-11 with a double, home run and five walks against him.

Matusz just didn't feel right on the mound despite being in good health. As I wrote recently, he was fighting himself as much as the opposing hitters.

A change of scenery might do him good. It's worked for other pitchers.